Senator Plans to Present Legislation Ensuring Army Helicopters Operate with Active Flight-Tracking System
In the wake of a tragic helicopter crash near Washington, DC on January 29 that claimed the lives of 67 people, Senator Ted Cruz has announced a new bill aimed at improving safety and transparency in Army helicopter operations. The Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, introduced by Cruz as the ranking chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, seeks to address concerns surrounding the use of flight tracking technology and helicopter routes at airports across the nation.
The crash in question involved an Army Black Hawk helicopter colliding with an airliner, and investigations have revealed that on the night of the incident, ADS-B out, a flight tracking technology, was turned off on the Army helicopter. The ROTOR Act will mandate that Army helicopters operate with this crucial technology enabled at all times, thereby enhancing monitoring and oversight of helicopter operations and potentially preventing future accidents.
Moreover, the ROTOR Act will initiate a nationwide review of helicopter routes at airports. This review is intended to reassess and possibly optimize helicopter traffic patterns, with the aim of improving safety and reducing risks associated with helicopter operations near airports.
Senator Cruz has been vocal about his criticisms of Army practices since the crash, and the proposed legislation is a significant step towards addressing the concerns raised by the incident. The bill will require the Army inspector general to review systemic breakdowns that may have contributed to the crash, providing a comprehensive examination of the events leading up to the tragedy.
Later this month, the National Transportation Safety Board will hold a three-day investigative hearing on the crash. This hearing will provide further insights into the causes of the incident and offer recommendations for improving helicopter safety in the future.
The ROTOR Act is a timely and necessary response to the tragic helicopter crash near Washington, DC. By mandating the use of flight tracking technology and reviewing helicopter routes at airports, the bill aims to improve safety and transparency in Army helicopter operations, ultimately protecting the lives of those who rely on these services.
[1] Mandates Army helicopters to operate with flight tracking technology enabled for better transparency. [1] Initiates a nationwide review of helicopter routes at airports to improve flight safety and oversight. [1] Senator Ted Cruz, ranking chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will introduce a bill to close a regulatory loophole that allowed an Army Black Hawk helicopter to operate without ADS-B out flight tracking technology. [1] Senator Cruz has been critical of Army practices since the crash.
[1] The proposed bill, known as the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, will mandate that Army helicopters operate with ADS-B out, a flight tracking technology, enabled at all times.[1] Additionally, the ROTOR Act will initiate a nationwide review of helicopter routes at airports, with the goal of optimizing helicopter traffic patterns and enhancing flight safety.[1] In light of a tragic helicopter crash near Washington, DC on January 29, Senator Ted Cruz has announced intentions to introduce legislation aimed at addressing concerns surrounding the use of flight tracking technology and helicopter routes at airports across the nation.[1] Senator Cruz, the ranking chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, has been vocal about his criticisms of Army practices following the crash.[1] The ROTOR Act seeks to close a regulatory loophole that allowed an Army Black Hawk helicopter to operate without ADS-B out flight tracking technology in the past, a loophole that investigations revealed was potentially a factor in the crash.
